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CaptureFox is a Firefox plug-in allowing you to perform screencasts (videos of computer screen output) for free and easily from Firefox. Unfortunately, it is only supported on the Microsoft Windows platform.

After installing and activating the plugin, a new icon appears in the status bar of Firefox.

Click the icon to record your first screencast.

Before you click on the “Start Capturing!” button, I advice you to customize the default settings :

• The capture area can be the whole screen, the Firefox window or a specific portion of the Firefox window. If you select the whole screen, you can minimize Firefox and thus capture anything on your screen (like another software);
• Adjust the video quality;
• The number of frames per second;
• If you have a microphone, you can record your voice as well (useful in a tutorial for example);
• The folder where the screencast will be recorded.

Advanced settings are available on the second tab :

• The video and audio codecs to use. The final quality and size of the video will be different depending on the codecs selected;
• You can enter a delay time, so that CaptureFox doesn’t start as soon as you click on the button. It waits for you to be prepared;
• You can set CaptureFox to start when you minimize Firefox window, and stop it when Firefox window gets focus;
• The output filename.

Everything is configured ? Go ! Start recording.

To end the recording, you need to click the icon again in the Firefox status bar (or Ctrl+Shift+U shortcut).

A window shows up and asks you what to do, open the screencast, save it in a specific location or simply start again if you are not satisfied with the result.

I use it for quite some time now and I have noticed that on old computer, there may be some latency on the video produced. Also, CaptureFox tends to crash when you use the dual screen. I recommend you to disable it temporarily when recording your screencasts.

Except these two things, the plug-in works just perfect, especially easy to install & use.

You should test it with different settings and perhaps use a video editing software to put the finishing touches.

 Version française disponible

Launchy is a very useful tool that I’ve been using for over one year under Windows, at home and in the workplace. It enables you to launch all your applications using personalized shortcuts.

No need to packed in many icons on your desktop, or create many shortcuts in the taskbar and the start menu. Launchy will be your centralized applications launcher.

The coolest thing about this software is its ability to learn from your habits. Indeed, as you use it, it analyzes and combines shortcuts with the applications you often start. After a few days, you only need one letter to launch one application. For example, typing “c” for Chrome or “i” for iTunes.

You can also use it to search on the internet, run specific commands such as reboot or shutdown the system.

Launchy is free and skinnable. Many skins are available on DeviantArt and you can easily create yours.

Here are some screenshots.

Under Linux (Gnome), I use a similar software which is very well integrated with the environment : Gnome Do. Its only default is there is not a lot of skins available, but it is still very efficient.